It’s always bittersweet to get on a plane and fly away from the Condo to our home in Seattle. I’ll be separated from Dear which is always hard but reunited with my children which is always good. I’ll miss our favorite early morning walks at Emma Wood. We haven’t established an early morning walk in Washington yet because duty calls when we are there. Here are some scenes I’ll miss…

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Thank you, thank you to all the soldiers who have gone before us and those who are still serving us. Thank you to all those who are in harm’s way keeping us safe. May God protect you from evil and bring you safely home.

“They have laid aside their armor
For the robe of spotless white;
And with Jesus they are walking
Where the river sparkles bright.
We have labored here together,
We have labored side by side,
Just a little while before me
They have crossed the rolling tide.”

From the Hymn The Lights of Home by Fanny Crosby.

I love this view that we had on our early morning walk this past Saturday. The sky looks painted don’t you think? This coming Saturday I fly to Seattle and will be at our home there until the New Year. I’ll miss our early morning walks here in Southern California with Dear and with Willow. Dear will join me there over Thanksgiving and then have an extended vacation during Christmas in Seattle, too. I have projects to complete that require some extended time there for me. My countdown here includes projects that need to get done before I fly away on Saturday. On Tuesday I’m headed to my mom and dad’s for a meal with the girls in the family, sisters and nieces and a nephew or two. It will be hit and miss with me and the blog till I get my Seattle legs. In the meantime I’ll be praying for God’s blessings on my bloggy friends…

Where’s ellen b.? ~ She flew the coop!

Just wanted to share one last image of our first born Josh with his beautiful wife Laura at a good friend’s wedding this past Friday. Laura was in the wedding.

I stole it without asking right off of facebook!!

I found these pieces at a thrift store. They are Johnson Bros. I got several round and square dessert plates, too.

Please visit Kim at Shabby Pink & Pretty the hostess of Tea Things Tuesday to join in or see more Tea Things…

It’s almost Monday so it’s time to post mosaics for Mosaic Monday with Mary at Little Red House and post something blue for Blue Monday with Sally at Smiling Sally!

On Thursday last week I met 2 of my sisters at the high school we all graduated from for a Homecoming Reunion BBQ. The school was unveiling a 100 year celebration mural and giving tours of the school culminating with a BBQ and entertainment from the band and Cheer Squads. Our high school colors were and are blue and gold so it was easy to have lots of blue to show you.

Early in Montebello’s history there were oil derricks on the hills that surround Montebello, that is where the Oilers came from. Our school newspaper was Derrick Diary. Our mascots were Ollie the Olive.

This next photo was taken in 1968 of a group of my friends standing in the same courtyard that I took one of the photos in the mosaic above. You can see that the building hasn’t changed except for some fresh paint.

Didn’t we dress reasonably back in the 60’s for school? :0)

The Auditorium is exactly the same and the lockers are the same but the courtyard with the blue umbrellas is new.

After they unveiled the new mural the pep squads let helium balloons go up into the sky.

This was just downright scary to watch. I kept wanting to yell “CATCH HER!”

Have a great week everyone!

It’s still morning on the West Coast. I took this this morning during our walk at Emma Wood State Beach. It was a crisp beautiful morning. I don’t feel like a half stuffed limpy scarecrow anymore. Hope you all have a great weekend.

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

Psalm 5:3 (NASB)

This is how I feel right now. So many fun things on my plate that have made me a little limp. I’m looking forward to the weekend and some relaxation. I’ll post some photos from the Homecoming for Blue Monday and Mosaic Monday.

Head over to the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog today and get the recipe for these…

They really are tasty and would be great in a Caprese Salad. We used them in our hamburgers and it really added a great dimension to the burger. Enjoy!

If you haven’t already, the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog is one you should bookmark and revisit. Those girls really do know how to cook.

I got home late last night from my homecoming and have to rush off to Bible Study this morning with an egg casserole in hand so my Fave Five will be late this week.

Have a great Friday everyone…

Today two of my sisters are meeting me at Montebello High School for a Homecoming BBQ. It’s special this year because our High School is celebrating their 100 year anniversary. Kathy graduated in 1964, Vera graduated in 1966, Fred graduated in 1967, and I graduated in 1968. It wasn’t easy following my older sisters and brother through school because they were a lot more compliant and successful then I was. I’d always hear comments like “you aren’t like your sisters”,or “I thought you’d do better because you are a Bagdanov”. My sister Kathy was G.A.A. president. My sister Vera was Valedictorian of her class, a wiz in mathematics. Back then there were no calculators and you should have seen her work that slide rule…amazing. My brother Fred was ASB president. Our 4 younger brothers and sister graduated from high school in Whittier. Was it Monte Vista Lana?

I’m looking forward to meeting a couple who I’ve met through my blog who graduated in 1951 and 1954. I’m also hoping to see other people I haven’t seen for 41 years.

Have a great Thursday everyone.